Building PDA

From TF2 Wiki

Contents 1 Information 1.1 Building PDA 1.2 Demolish PDA 1.3 Usage 2 Damage

Information

The Building PDA is a special weapon used by the Engineer class to build and demolish their own buildings. The device held by the player's on-screen model is not thoroughly animated, is not a weapon (cannot be used to attack) and only serves as a visual cue to the player and those that see the player's character. While the player is using the PDA, a special on-screen menu appears to allow the player access to the four building types.

Building PDA

The Building PDA resembles a pocket graphing calculator with a rocker switch on top, a small display screen and a keypad with large buttons. The "ready" animation of this PDA shows the Engineer flicking the rocker switch "on".

Demolish PDA

The Demolish PDA is a simple radio control device with a telescoping antenna, a small screen and one large circular red button. The "ready" animation of this PDA shows the Engineer extending the antenna and poising his left index finger over the button. It is unknown how the device knows which building to demolish as there are no other interactive controls for the Engineer.

Usage

By default, the player uses weapon slot 4 to build and weapon slot 5 to demolish (destroy). A superimposed HUD graphic then appears which lists all four buildings.

When the player selects the build or demolish weapon slot, the number keys 1 - 4 map to the building types (PC version). There is also a cancel key (Default key: Q) to exit the PDA menu; this key is whatever is mapped to "Last weapon used" in settings.

• 1 key: Sentry gun
• 2 key: Dispenser
• 3 key: Teleporter Entrance
• 4 key: Teleporter exit
• Last weapon used key: Cancel building / demolition. (Default key: Q)

These keys will only function on the appropriate PDA under the right conditions. If you have insufficient Metal, you will be denied access to certain buildings on the Building PDA. When you gather metal, the PDA will enable building choices that would have their cost met. The PDA will not allow a player to build more than one of any building type. If you have not built a Sentry gun, you cannot select it on the Demolish PDA to destroy it.

If a player chooses to construct an available building from the Build PDA, the player model will then hold a toolbox, and the player will see a template on the ground in front of them showing the orientation of the chosen building. While the template is visible, right-clicking adjusts the building's orientation by 90 degrees anti-clockwise, left-clicking starts the build and "last weapon used" cancels the build.

Note: The Xbox 360 version does not have a separate Demolish PDA. Instead, both are handled by one PDA. After choosing the proper weapon slot to activate the PDA, the player uses the right trigger to construct the selected building (if you have enough Metal) and the left trigger to demolish the selected building (if it is already built).

Damage

• Not applicable.